Page 113 of Amnesia

“You don’t belong here,” a voice said from behind.

I gasped and spun around, clutching the toy to my chest. “Excuse me?”

There was a woman a few feet away with a large hat shadowing most of her face. Her clothes were baggy and didn’t have much shape, and she was wearing sneakers with her long skirt.

“I know who you are,” she said.

“I’m pretty sure you don’t,” I said. My heart still pounding, I glanced around behind her, looking for Maggie. Or Eddie. Or anyone really. “I don’t even know.”

“You’re remembering things,” she said knowingly. “You don’t belong here.”

I blinked, not sure how to respond. “Who are you?” I asked. I hadn’t seen her around before, yet there was something familiar… Something about her made me very uncomfortable.

“Amnesia,” Eddie said, appearing around a shelf.

I practically folded to the floor with relief. “Eddie.”

“Mrs. West,” he said. “Everything okay here?”

“Of course. I was just introducing myself to the most famous girl in town,” she replied.

I recoiled. Eddie’s eyes narrowed, but then he smiled. “She’s also the most beautiful.” Brushing past the woman, he came to my side, angling himself just slightly in front of me. I was grateful for it, and I reached out, clutching the side of his shirt.

“I should be going. I need to get back to my boat.” She turned away.

“I’ll be right there to check you out,” he called, and we both watched her walk away.

“Who was that?” I asked.

“The widow of Rumor Island,” he replied.

“She’s odd.” I shuddered.

He rubbed a palm up and down my arm. “Yeah, she definitely is.” He looked down. “Did she say something to you?”

“She said I didn’t belong here.”

His face screwed up. “What?”

I shrugged. “I’m glad you came over when you did.”

He kissed the top of my head. “She doesn’t come around often. You won’t have to see her.”

I nodded, and he reached up to finger the toy still clutched into my chest. “This on your grocery list?”

I laughed. “No. But I saw it and couldn’t help but come over…”

“You have a thing for the Loch Ness, don’t you?” He chuckled.

“It reminds me of you.”

His eyes softened, a small smile playing on his lips. “In that case, you should keep it.”

“It’s not on the list,” I teased, moving to set it back on the shelf.

He made a sound and grabbed my wrist. “Keep it. On the house.”

Oh, how his eyes beguiled me. I was pretty sure he could convince a nun to sin and the devil to show leniency. “Thank you,” I whispered, rose, and kissed his mouth.

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